Seeking Science Fiction Recommendations

[beamjockey]

Someone I know has turned to me for help. Her male cousin

"is turning 13 I think… I always buy him books. He is really smart, more geeky than dreamy and likes science fiction. Any suggestions??"

I don't know more about his reading habits than this.

I have a few clues, but haven't read extensively in recent SF. I could recommend a bunch of books that were great 20 to 60 years ago.

I'm looking for suggestions for books published recently-- let's say in the 21st century-- that are a nearly-sure bet to interest someone who fits the description above. Books that would make a suitable gift.

(At 13, he's probably ready to read some SF published for adults, but really good young-adult stories are also worth considering. And I gather there are a lot of good ones around these days.)

Comments

[akirlu.livejournal.com]

I see lots of folks recommended Doctorow's Big Brother already but I'll chime in. Also, though one can certainly argue that it's really fantasy, it also has SF elements and steampunkery that might appeal to an sf-nal sensibility: Garth Nix's Keys to the Kingdom series, beginning with Mister Monday.

[seth ellis (from livejournal.com)]

I second the Garth Nix. I really enjoyed that series.